Leo paced by the front door. They had moved Donny to the couch in front of the fire place with his head in Raph's lap. Mikey was holding Pearl, who was silently crying. Splinter was making tea. Cerina had been gone for twenty minutes. It had taken Leo ten of those minutes to convince Pearl that she needed to stay in the house. He wished he could have made Cerina stay. There was a storm moving in and lightning flashed outside the window.
"Leo, stop pacin'. You're givin' me a head ache." Raph complained over the roll of thunder.
"Sorry Raph." Leo slid down the wall to sit on the floor by the door. He closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall. 'I really hope that Cerina is alright.' He thought. 'She seemed tense.' They were all silent for another few minutes before Leo couldn't take it any more. "Pearl, do you know what's going on?"
"Uh-huh." She shook her head and clung tighter to Mikey's shirt.
"Anything at all? Who those men were? What they wanted with Cerina? Anything?" Leo pressed.
"Leo, she said she doesn't know so don't pester her!" Mikey snapped.
"It's okay Mikey. I understand where he's coming from. I was worried too." Pearl whispered.
"'Was'? You mean to say that you're not worried about her anymore?" Mikey asked. Leo was shocked that Mikey picked up on that little detail.
"Well, I am still worried, but not as bad anymore." Pearl wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"Why not?" Raph asked, greatful for some kind of conversation.
"She has the katanas with her. They were Artanis' and I'm sure that his strength is with her...whatever she's doing."
"I thought that those two didn't get along?" Mikey asked.
"They didn't, do you remember that letter I told you about? The one that I kinda stole from Cerina and read it without her permission?" Pearl sat up to look at Mikey's face.
"The one you guys fought over? I remember."
"Well...it was from Artanis. It had been folded up and put in the bottom of one of the katanas he gave her. I won't tell you everything it said, but in that letter he finally told Cerina that he was proud of her and everything she did and that he loved her. It had a big impact on her, she respects him now. She forgave him for everything that he did to her. All of the trips to the emergency room, the stab wound, being so harsh on her..stuff like that. I believe that when she uses those katanas, she's remembering all of his lessons, and teachings as well as...other memories. She will become much stronger than normal when she uses those."
"That was quite the explanation Pearl." Mikey leaned back into the couch.
"She has a point." Leo whispered.
"Agreed." Splinter said as he came back into the room and set the tea on the coffee table. They were silent after that. Waiting and wondering what was going on in the forest.
Cerina panted as she wiped the sweat off her brow and tried to catch her breath. She was up in a tree and the men didn't know where she was. To be honest, she didn't know what all of this was about, but if it was a debt that Artanis owed, she would pay it off...getting revenge for Donny at the same time. She had forgotten her watch, but she figured they had been at it for fifteen or twenty minutes. She shivered. A storm was coming in. She carefully peered down and saw one of the men beneath her tree. She took one of the large rocks from her lap and dropped it on his head. Before the others were alerted to her location, she had already moved to another tree several yards away from the previous one.
"Come on out Serenity, we just want to talk." Yelled the leader.
Cerina took a breath and threw her voice away from her true location. "If you just wanted to talk, why did you come at me with swords drawn?"
"We figured that you'd have your father's attitude and we were right. We decided that it would be better to be safe rather then sorry." The leader moved in on the spot her voice had come from.
"I'm not there." Cerina wanted to see if she could mess with there heads.
"Not where?"
"In that bush you're all crowding around. Even if I was, do you think I'd let you surround me?"
"But—?" The leader thrust his katana into the bush and then spread the branches. He quickly straightened and looked around. "Very clever. You can throw your voice." He made a slow circle—scanning the undergrowth of the forest. "It's a nice trick, but you won't be able to hide forever." He signaled for his men to fan out and search the general area.
"If you would tell me what you wanted from Artanis, I might be able to help you." She threw her voice to a different spot.
"That's just the thing, we need your help seems as Artanis is no longer living."
"What do you need help with?" Cerina moved silently to a different tree again.
"Artanis promised us that if he didn't finish a job, you would. He also told us that you'd be taking over his business once you got his katanas. Seems as you have them, you must be running his business."
"I don't know what your talking about. Artanis left me these katanas in his will and I never knew what he did in that stupid business of his." She threw her voice again.
"You mean to tell me that he never recruited your services before?"
"No." Cerina tried to figure out what this crazed man was talking about. Why would Artanis have needed her help in his 'business'. She'd always figured he'd give it to Pearl, seems as she was his favorite.
"I guess I'd better be the one to explain. Why don't you come out of hiding so we can talk like civilized people?"
"Why don't you sheath your weapons and put them on the ground?" Cerina peered around the trunk so she could see the men better.
"Alright, we'll put them away and on the ground." the man sheathed his katana, but didn't put it on the ground. "There, away and out of reach. Now will you come out?"
"Not a chance. I can see you you know." Cerina clenched the grips of her katanas.
"Fine." He and his men put their weapons on the ground. "How about now?"
"Nope, you already showed me that I can't trust your word. I'll stay where I'm at, you can explain everything just fine without seeing me." Cerina continued to throw her voice to various places. She could tell that the henchmen were getting edgy, but not the leader. He stayed calm and unphased with everything.
"You win." he sighed. "Your guardian ran a very helpful business for people of less then honorable professions. It was one that got rid of bothersome people."
"'Got rid of'?"
"You could say that he permanently put them out of commission."
"He...killed...them...?" Cerina's stomach clenched and her breath caught in her throat.
"Yes. He was one of the greatest assassins New York has ever seen. He assured us that you would take over the business after he left us."
Cerina didn't say anything. She was still trying to breathe and unknot her stomach. Artanis was...an...assassin? That just didn't make sense. She knew that he killed her father, but Artanis said in the letter that—. "Who has he killed?" She asked.
"Several. More than I can count or recall."
"Anyone I know?" Cerina had to force herself to keep her position secret.
"Yeah, two for sure." the man's voice was filled with glee.
"Who?" Cerina pressed.
"A Haru and a Pearl."
"What?" Cerina whispered as lightning lit up the sky and thunder boomed.
"Gottcha!" said the man and there was a gunshot.
The bark next to Cerina's head exploded. She ducked and launched herself into the nearest tree. Gunshots followed her to which ever tree she jumped to. "Shit," she cursed as one bullet grazed her cheek and blood flowed freely down her face and neck. She couldn't lose him, she'd have to face him. She turned around and raced back to where he was standing with his Glock out and firing.
"Finally going to stay and fight?" he asked as Cerina landed in front of him with her katanas at his neck.
"Only if you tell me why he killed Pearl." Rain began to fall.
"That was simple. She slept with his best friend and bore his child. Which I would assume was you. I mean, you look just like Haru."
"Wait..." Cerina's head was spinning...'child'...they didn't know about her twin. Artanis kept her a secret, and so would she. "Why would he kill his wife? Why not just stop at killing my father?"
"You say it so matter-of-fact. I would guess that you knew about that part."
Cerina nodded. Lightning flashed again.
"But not Pearl. Well, the easiest way to explain would be that there were a lot of men angry with Pearl. She was sort of a rare novelty underground. Many people were angry when Artanis snatched her away. After the affair, many men were convinced that she would sleep with them too and they pursued her. Artanis had the choice of fighting for her, which would have been the wise thing, but instead, he took the cowards way out and killed her himself."
"I was told that she died in a car accident." Cerina forced her voice to stay emotionless.
"With Artanis' help. You see, he had another target. He paid the target to run a red light at the same intersection that Pearl would be going through. It was brilliant if you ask me."
"I'm not asking you." Cerina's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" she asked again.
"How rude of me. The name is Romero."
"What, not last name?"
"Not in this business honey." Romero reached up and fingered the tip of one of her katanas.
"What do you need me for? I'm no assassin and I refuse to take Artanis' place as one." her grip tightened so tight that she thought her knuckles would burst.
"I was hoping that you would change your mind after I told you the target."
"It won't spark my interest."
"Not even if it's one of the Purple Dragons that raped your friend?"
Her breath caught again. "Nope, not even then." her voice wavered a little, but still held strong. She was soaked through and the rain was only falling harder.
"Too bad, because you see, now we either have to try harder to convince you, or we have to kill you. So, which will it be?" Romero reloaded his Glock and his henchmen surrounded Cerina.
"Neither. I'll be the one to kill you." Cerina lowered her left katana from Romero's neck and held it out away from her side.
"It will be fun to see you try, but I recall hearing you say something about not letting yourself get surrounded." Romero smirked.
Cerina snarled as she glanced out of the corner of her eyes. She was surrounded. She had been trying so hard to figure out what Romero was talking about, that she had let her guard down. For now, she decided that she would play it safe. "How else were you going to try to convince me?" she whispered.
"Are you saying you'll do the job?"
"There isn't a chance of that happening. I'm just curious as to what else you've got up your sleeve." she lowered her right katana and held it at her side like the left. It was a simple stance good for offense and defense.
"Boy's why don't we show her?" Romero took a step forward.
"We're up for that boss, just don't hog her all to yourself." said the man on Romero's right.
"Don't worry boy's there will be plenty to go around." Romero leaped forward and clubbed Cerina behind the ear before she could react.
The katanas slipped from her grasp and she fell to her knees. Just like in the alley, her head swam and her vision went blurry. She fought it. There was no way she was going to be knocked out surrounded by men. Romero hit her at the nape of her neck and she fell forward onto her hands. She gritted her teeth and swallowed. Her throat still hurt from her near drowning experience.
"She's tougher than we thought. Looks like we'll get to hear her scream and plead." Romero kicked Cerina's gut and she couldn't hold in the cry of pain. She felt her wound tear open as she landed on her back. "Hmm...didn't think I kicked her that hard. I think she's hiding something. What do you say we take a look?" Romero bent down and pulled her shirt up higher than necessary. "Would you look at that? Our little ninja has a stomach wound." He pressed his hand into it.
"GAH!" Cerina tried to sit up but two of the men came and held her hands down.
"Looks like she's in a lot of pain boys. What could we possibly do to help her forget her painful wound?" Romero's voice was full of mockery.
"Well boss, we could always give some other pain to get her mind off of it." Said the man from before.
"That is a wonderful idea Sean. Would you like to do the honors?"
"I would like to boss, but I know how much you want to." Sean knelt next to Romero. Lightning lit up the sky once again and thunder rolled.
"Thank you Sean. You'll be getting a raise." Romero said with a smirk as two men lifted Cerina by her arms to a kneeling position. He grabbed on of her katanas and smacked her face with the broad end.
"Ugh..." Cerina moaned. She tried to make her mouth form words, but she was having a hard enough time trying stay conscious.
"A little grunt is all I get? I guess I'll have to try harder." he kicked her in gut again and kneed her chin.
"Ahh!" Cerina tried to stand, but Sean and another held her firm.
"It's alright Sean, let her squirm. It doesn't bother me and it only makes her stomach hurt worse. And that means I get to try harder to make her forget her wounds." He kept kicking over and over again. She still couldn't make her tongue work right to form words. She tried to fight back, to dodge somehow, but she couldn't move.
"Boss, I don't think it's working any more." Sean said as he tapped Romero's shoulder.
"You're right. We must go all out." He picked up her other katana "You'll enjoy this Serenity, I'm sure you will." he began to hit her with the katanas, making a cut of varying depths each time.
She tried to fight harder then before. It didn't do any good. Romero just kept hurting her and hurting her for what felt like hours. She found her voice screamed again and again for him to stop. She knew that's just what he wanted, but she couldn't stop herself from pleading and begging. She never once opened her eyes, and she didn't want to. She tried to focus on something—anything—other than the pain. Romero stopped for a brief minute and, after a conversation she couldn't hear above her beating heart, she felt someone's foot connect with her lower back. It was someone else, but she didn't dare look to see who. It felt like hours again and again. She was getting desperate to stop them. She went numb after the fourth person but that didn't stop them. The rain was slowing down, but it was getting colder and she could feel it stinging her face. She started shivering.
The pain dulled for a moment and she knew that the men were switching again. The man holding down her right arm let go. She didn't hesitate or stop to think about the repercussions. She lashed out and felt her hand connect with someone's jaw. She opened her eyes and glanced around her while she hit another guy in the back of the knee. She pulled her left arm free when he let go to help his comrade. She clenched her teeth at the pain and looked around. She forced her body into a back roundoff which through the other two holding her off balance. When she landed she wobbled but stayed on her feet. She stood and blocked a punch from Sean as she spat out a mouth full of blood.
"Get that little bitch!" Romero yelled.
Cerina was a lot slower than normal and her gut and head ached but she kept fighting. Romero came running at her with his katana drawn. She tucked and rolled forward and grabbed her two abandoned katanas she spun and impaled Sean with one and blocked Romero with the other. Blood splattered everywhere. Sean slid off of her blade and landed dead on the ground. The rest of the men ran at her to get revenge, but she made short work of them. Impaling or decapitating them. Soon, Romero was the only one left. She turned to face him. She was now covered in the blood of his men as well as her own. Lightning flashed as the rain receded to a drizzle.
"I'll get you for killing my men." Romero pulled out his Glock but Cerina knocked it away with one of her katanas before he could fire it. "That's okay, I still have this." He unsheathed his katana.
Cerina repeated the words that had started this whole affair. "Just try."
"I will!" Romero ran at Cerina but she just sidestepped and pushed him off balance.
Earlier she had noticed that, though he could hold it right and knew a few stances, he really wasn't that good at Bushido. If she stayed calm—and numb like she was—she could win this and get back to Pearl and Leo's open arms. He lunged again and she stepped back and blocked. That happened a few more times, and Cerina was really getting tired of it when her back hit a tree. He lunged one more time and grazed her left bicep before she could move.
"You're good. Artanis was right when he suggested that you take over after him. You killed all of my men without a thought."
"I'll take that as a compliment." Cerina growled.
"Reconsider. I'll pay you twice as much as I paid Artanis. And I'll give you lots of vacation days, with a pretty and large house. You'll have all the money and property you want."
"Never."
"Suit yourself." Romero ran at Cerina again but this time she just held her blades forward and he ran straight into them. One in his chest and one in his stomach. "Argh........." blood welled up then trailed from between his lips. "Now I know...of the...honor.....it is.......to be.......killed by........an......Orphen...." The light faded from his eyes as he collapsed, sliding off of Cerina's katanas.
She gasped for air, turned, and looked around her. The full impact of what had just happened hit her. She collapsed and vomited. She had killed someone. A lot of someones. She'd never done anything more than knock them out before. She raised a shaking hand to wipe off her mouth but stopped. Both of her hands were smeared with blood. She looked down at the rest of her. Blood was splattered everywhere. "NO!!" She screamed with all of the strength and sanity left in her. She heard her voice echo around her before it faded. She wrapped her arms around her and screamed again and again. Her voice gave out but she continued to yell—or try to—until no sound would come out. She swallowed and picked up the katanas—they felt very heavy.
Cerina staggered to her feet, fell down, pushed herself up, and began walking back to the house. She fell several times and, when she could barely see the house through the trees, she fell again. This time, she didn't try to get up. She just laid there. She didn't know how long she was there, but the morning sun was peaking out from behind the storm clouds. She stirred, groaned, and tried to sit up. There was a lot of mud in her wounds, and she was sure that the lump behind her ear wasn't helping her balance or head ache. Everyone would be worried about her—especially Pearl. She once again staggered to her feet—using her katanas to help her stand—and walked out of the tree line.
It had been a lot darker under the canopy of the trees. The sun was shining bright and reflected off of the white house in a brilliance too great for Cerina's eyes. She shielded them and shuffled up to the house. She tried the door but it didn't open. If she had had the energy, she would have gone around the house to the balcony or through a window—instead she leaned against the door, and dropped a katana as she closed her eyes. She felt about ready to collapse again. She heard voices from the other side of the door. Someone said her name, but she was gone.
"Raph, would you just open the door?" Mikey snapped. It had been a long night and none of them slept, except Donny, who had just woken up from being unconscious.
"Sorry Mikey, what if it was one of those boogie-men that Don was muttering about all night?"
"What if it's Cerina?" Leo folded his arms as he stood behind his youngest brother.
"Most likely not." Raph stretched his arms over his head, but stayed leaning against the door. There was a clatter of metal from just outside the door.
"Raph, move it or I'll have to move you." Leo assumed the 'voice' as he stepped around Mikey and got right in Raph's face. The 'voice' was something he learned from Master Splinter; it was dead serious, and full of command. He only used it when he was dead serious and in no mood to joke (and that was usually when Raph was in one of his 'moods').
"Alright already. Ya don't have ta go all commando on me bro." Raph stepped to the side.
"You don't have to be so mean Raph." Pearl said as she slid into Mikey's arms.
"Tch. Whateva..." Raph muttered as he went up stairs.
Leo opened the door only to have an unconscious Cerina fall into him. He barely caught her, but he was also knocked to the ground. "Cerina?"
"Ah, shit." Pearl groaned as Leo turned Cerina over.
Her head rolled back and away from Leo's body. "Cerina?" He called as he stroked her face on the unwounded side. "Can you hear me?" He was hoping that he could wake her up so he could find out exactly what was wrong.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Don asked as he hobbled over using Splinter's stick.
"It's Cerina. She's covered in blood and I don't know if it's all hers or not." Leo gathered Cerina up into his arms and stood up. He carried her into her room and laid her on the bed. He changed into a human.
"How did she—?" Don began as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"She ran out of the door just after you passed out." Leo explained as he began cleaning Cerina's cheek wound with the warm water Splinter had just brought in.
"Why would she—?" Don started.
"Because she didn't want them coming here and, from what you said, they were after her and her alone." Leo rinsed his rag and began to clean her stomach wound. "She really didn't take care of this did she?" he muttered.
"Cerina has never been one to take good care of herself. She's always too worried about others." Pearl crawled over the bed to sit next to her sister's head. She took one of her hands.
"Do you think she got cut open because she was dodging attacks and really fighting?" Mikey asked.
"No." Leo growled as an angry look clouded his face.
"Why?" Don asked.
"Look for yourself. What do you see?" Leo's voice wasn't more than a whisper.
"Well..." Donny was quiet for a minute as he took in the bruises forming on Cerina's body—both unseen and seen. "I see, I don't need to say it." He turned away, tears in his eyes.
"Pearl, could you please go get me some more hot water? This bowl is already full of blood and mud." Leo asked.
"Sure." Pearl left the room.
"What is it my son?" Master Splinter asked.
"Who would be so cruel as to do something like this?" Leo had to blink tears from his eyes as Cerina moaned. He had just pulled a leaf out of the wound on her stomach.
"Bastards." Raph said as he came into the room.
"My son, please do not use such harsh language. Though they do deserve it." Splinter put a hand on Leo's back.
"Do you really think that they were clients of Artanis?" Mikey asked.
"Who knows? Pearl 'n' Cerina never really said what type a business Artanis ran." Raph moved over to the window and looked out. "Do ya think they're still out there?"
"Who knows?" Don whispered.
"Here you go Leo." Pearl said as she came back into the room. She set the bowl on the bedside table and crawled back to her spot.
"Don, come look at this." Leo straightened out his back while Don scooted closer. "Does that need stitches?" Leo pointed to the gash on Cerina's left arm.
"It doesn't look to be that deep, just nasty. Clean it up and put a bandage on it and it should be fine." Don examined Cerina's other wounds. A few of them were deep enough to need stitches, and all of them were dirty and already infected.
"Thanks. Pearl, could you check her head for me? See if there are any wounds." Leo started cleaning the arm wounds.
"Yep." Pearl let go of Cerina's hand and gently checked her head. "Here, there's one behind her left ear."
"Is it bleeding?"
"No, it just looks swollen and scabbed."
"'K." Leo sighed and rinsed his rag again. He stood, leaned over Cerina, and gently turned her head to the right. He cleaned up the bump as best as he could before he knelt down again. He sighed, rubbed his eyes with his forearm, stood up, and reached for the bowl, but Raph got it first.
"I'll take it bro 'n' I'm sorry. About the door thing."
"Thank you and it's alright Raph." Leo clasped his brother's shell for a moment.
"I'm feeling very tired all of a sudden." Don stood up and hobbled out of the room and into his.
"I'm gonna go check on Donny." Mikey slid out of the room.
"My soaps are on, so I will be just next door if you need me, my son. Take care and do not worry too much. She is strong and she will be alright." Master Splinter hugged his son before he left too.
"Well, I guess everyone's trying to give you some 'alone time' with Cerina. Do you want me to leave too?" Pearl asked.
"She's your sister, I wouldn't dream of asking you to leave her while she was like this just so I could be alone with her." Leo knelt by the edge of the bed and took one of Cerina's hands.
"That's true, but I still think I should leave." Pearl slid off the bed and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
"Cerina..." Leo whispered. "I'm so sorry. I should have gone looking for you when you didn't come back right away." He cradled her face in one of his hands. "Because of that....you were...you could have..." Leo couldn't finish his thought out loud. He just stared at her face as tears began to flow down his cheeks. He soon fell asleep, still holding her hand and kneeling by the bed.
"So, is there a reason why you all ditched your brother?" Pearl asked as she joined everyone on the second floor.
"He looked like he needed to cry. Leo's not one for crying in front of people—except maybe Master Splinter." Don said as he adjusted his leg.
"It used to be that he would storm off pretending to be mad so that we would leave him alone for a while so he could cry." Mikey held out his arms for Pearl. She sat by him and snuggled into his shell. "It wasn't until I walked in on him crying that I figured it out."
"I'm surprised that you left though, Pearl." Raph was staring out of the window at the forest.
"I figured that since you all left with pathetic excuses, I should too." Pearl muttered, she was almost asleep. "She's gonna be fine...right.....?" Pearl's voice trailed off as she fell asleep.
"She's gonna be wonderful." Mikey whispered as he kissed the top of her head. He changed into a human so that Pearl would be more comfortable.
"You guys hungry?" Raph asked.
"No, why?" Don turned down the volume from the TV so that it wasn't more than a murmur in the background.
"Because it's almost noon." Mikey whispered.
"I'm proud of ya Mikey, ya didn't even have ta look at a clock." Raph smacked the back of his head then headed down the stairs.
"He doesn't have to be so mean all the time." Don started flipping through channels.
"Mmm..." Cerina stirred and woke up Leo. He looked at the time—it was five o'clock—and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. His muscles were stiff from sleeping hunched over like he was, but that didn't matter. She was waking up.
"Cerina, honey?" Leo caressed her face with his free hand.
She groaned and held her breath for a moment before she groaned again.
"Cerina..." Leo rested his hand at the nape of her neck.
"...No..." she muttered as her face clouded.
"Cerina?"
"...Stop it....let go of me...." She cringed away from something. "Please...no..." her voice was getting stronger. She started to thrash.
"Cerina, c'mon and wake up honey." Leo caressed her face again.
"NO!" she screamed as she sat bolt right up in the bed. "NO!!" She pushed against Leo trying to get away from him.
"Cerina, it's me, Leo. Please, open your eyes." he kept one hand on her face and he slipped the other around her back in case she lost the precious little strength she had.
"STOP!!" she yelled again. The bedroom door opened and soon everyone was standing the doorway, trying to see what was going on and if they could help somehow.
"Cerina....c'mon honey, it's just a dream. Open your eyes. You know I won't hurt you." Leo continued to soothe Cerina in his calm, even voice.
"Please..." She pushed against him again and turned her head away. "...don't..." Her voice trailed off again as she seemed to slip into a better dream. Leo laid her back down and sighed. He looked up to his family in the door. Splinter was just about to say something when Cerina sat up, her eyes scrunched shut, and called out again.
"LEONARDO!!!" This cry chilled all of them. It was full of fear, pleading, and longing all at once.
"I'm here." he put his arms around her again.
"Leonardo..." she said again, quieter this time. She was still asleep. "Please....help me..." she whispered.
"Cerina, I'm here. Open your eyes. You'll find me." He whispered. Her eyes fluttered open.
"Leo..nar..do..?" she reached up and touched his face.
"I'm here, you don't have to be scared anymore." After a moment, tears burst from her eyes and she threw her arms around his neck. He just held her closer. Everyone at the door just quietly backed out and shut the door. "Shh..." He rubbed her back and tried to sooth her.
"I was so scared..." Cerina whispered through her sobs.
"Do you want to tell me?"
"I...I killed someone." Cerina squeezed Leo tighter. "A lot of someones. I've never done that before."
"Oh babe, it'll be alright. I...I've killed people too." he rubbed her arms.
"Really?" Cerina pushed away from Leo to look in his eyes.
"Yeah. I didn't like it either, but there was no other choice. It was either me and my brothers, or the bad guys. I had to choose between them, and I chose my family." Leo cradled her face in his hand again.
"Where you horrified after?"
"For days. Ask my family. I was useless for a long time. I wouldn't eat or sleep. All I did was train and meditate, but that didn't help anything either. It just reminded me of what happened."
"Does it ever go away?" Cerina looked down at her lap.
"The memories?"
She nodded, her head felt heavy.
"Eventually. I found it easier to focus on what I had saved, rather than what I had lost."
She nodded again, behind her ear was pounding.
"Cerina, tell me what you saved by killing these men."
"Besides my own life?" She wiped away a few tears and winced when she brushed the gash on her cheek.
"Uh-huh."
She was quiet for a long time before she shrugged, and promptly winced. "I don't know."
"Let me help." Leo's voice was strong and confidant. Cerina felt better just by listening to him talk. "You gave Pearl back her only family—besides us turtles." Cerina half laughed and half sobbed. "You've saved my sanity from the brink of extinction. Plus you up-held Don's honor and resolved what ever business Artanis left unfinished."
"His business!" Cerina gasped and grabbed a handful of his shirt, "Leonardo, it was horrible!" her eyes widened at the memory of what she had learned. "He was an assassin! He wanted me to take over his business when he died, and—and" tears started to come to her eyes again.
"What? You can tell me." Leo used the edge of his sleeve to wipe a tear from her cheek.
"Well, I figured this first part out a while ago, but Artanis killed my father. What I didn't know was that he also arranged it for my mother to be killed too." She couldn't hold back the tears and the more she cried, the more her injuries hurt her and that made her cry even more. Leo just held her and tried to offer her some comfort, though no more was said that day and he stayed with her long after she had cried herself to sleep. Once he was sure she wasn't going to wake up for a while, he left the room for a moment.
Everyone was upstairs. Pearl and Mikey were sitting on the roof just beside one of the windows, Splinter was meditating, while Donny and Raph were half-heartedly watching a movie. Leo crossed straight to the open window and leaned out. He held out a hand when Pearl started to speak. "She's fine. She's been asleep for a long time now."
"Is she in a lot of pain?" Pearl asked, worry clear on her face and in her voice.
"Some, but that's to be expected. Pearl, I must ask you a question."
"Alright..." Pearl suddenly sounded suspicious.
"It's about Artanis. Do you know what he did in his business?"
"Well...no. He never told us about it. Only that one day he hoped to have Cerina's help in it. Why?"
"And about your mother, how did she die?"
"In a car accident."
"Your father?"
"They said it was suicide, but it looked like he was murdered. Why are you asking these questions?"
"Cerina gave me some rather disturbing news." Leo glanced over his shoulder to find that everyone had gathered around him, except Donny who was still sitting on the couch, but had turned around. "Come inside and sit down." Leo stepped back for Mikey to climb through. He helped Pearl off the windowsill and over to the couch before he continued explaining. "Cerina found out who those men were. They were clients of Artanis and that his business was less then honorable. Much less."
"Did he run a whore house?" Mikey asked and was rewarded by getting hit by Raph.
"No, he was an assassin."
"What?" Pearl whispered, her face drained of color.
"Apparently, Artanis murdered your father and—for whatever reasons—wanted to kill your mother also. He arranged for another car to run into your mother's in that intersection. Got two targets in one foul deed."
"He wouldn't!"
"He did and those men came to get Cerina to take over Artanis' business!" Leo shifted uncomfortably. During the last half hour or so before Cerina fell asleep, she had told him everything Romero said and did to her. If she hadn't have killed them all, he decided that he would have hunted them down and committed the action himself.
"I can't believe it..." Pearl hung her head and covered her face with her hands. Mikey put his arms around her. "Cerina must have been shattered to find out. She had just come to respect him and even to love him...now this? What must have been going through her head when he told her?"
"Well, I'd better get back to her. She'll get hysterical if she wakes up and someone's not there." Leo began walking away when Pearl caught his arm.
"I'll go. I want to be with her."
"Alright, but if you need me, just yell." Leo squeezed her shoulder before returning to sit with his brothers.
"Mmm." Pearl hurried down the stairs and into her room. She carefully sat on the bed next to her sister. "You dope." She whispered. "You are always getting hurt to protect me. Foot ninja, Purple Dragons, Artanis, strange men...and the list goes on." Cerina groaned and shifted a little, "One of these days you're gonna get yourself killed. You should have at least taken Leo with you. Then maybe things wouldn't have been so bad." Pearl took a handful of Cerina's black hair and began to braid it.
"At least you didn't get hurt. That was all I was hoping for." Cerina whispered as her eyes fluttered opened.
"Did I wake you?" Pearl asked, suddenly worried.
"No, I woke up just before Leonardo left. I figured that he needed some time to explain things to you." Cerina's voice was still rough and harsh from the yelling.
"How are you feeling?"
"Better now that I've slept some. I thought I'd have nightmares, but surprisingly I didn't."
"It must have been because Leo was with you."
"That could have been it." Cerina sat up with a grimace, "Boy, I need a shower!" she tried to laugh.
"I don't know if that's a good idea Cerina..." Pearl hesitated.
"It would clean some of the forest off of me, and it would give me a chance to relax my muscles. They're so tense and sore, I'm surprised I'm not shaking." She actually managed a smile. "I could also do with a change of clothes..." Cerina looked down at the dirty and torn clothes she was wearing.
"Well, only if you let me help you."
"That's a pleasant thought." Cerina laced her voice with sarcasm.
"It's the only way you'll get a bath or shower. Unless, of course, you can get Leo to help you."
"Would he?" Cerina pretended to be very eager.
"No."
"Crap..." Cerina swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "Help me stand up. I don't want to fall over again."
"Right." Pearl slid off the bed and helped her sister stand up. "I guess this is pay back for all the times I was sick and you had to help me, huh?"
"Damn right it is." Cerina managed a chuckle.
"Hang on," Pearl said when they reached the bedroom door. "LEO!" she yelled.
"What?" Leo said as he came running down the stairs.
"Don't worry, nothing's happened. She just wants a bath. I figured I'd better tell you so you don't come into our room and freak out because we're not there." Pearl quickly explained. Leo had had quite the worried look on his face when he saw Cerina standing.
"Alright, but don't lock the door."
"Why? Do you plan on joining me?" Cerina teased.
"N-no." Leo blushed, "It's just in case you pass out again and Pearl can't get you out, or you slip and fall and break a leg or your neck, or you black out and drowned, or something like that."
"I'm so glad that I have your vote of confidence." Cerina smiled. Leo had been so kind to her; letting her cry and blabber about all sorts of things, calming her down when she started to have bad dreams, taking care of her wounds. She didn't know how she could ever repay his kindness.
"C'mon, before I drop you on purpose." Pearl steered Cerina past Splinter's bedroom and into the bathroom.
"You want to know something I've never understood?" Cerina asked after Pearl closed the bathroom door.
"Tell me." Pearl sat Cerina down on lid of the toilet.
"I don't understand why that whole wall facing the ocean is glass. What if there was a boat of pirates just off of shore and they had one of those cool looking glasses. They could see right in and watch you take a shower or bath." Cerina said this with a completely straight face.
"Cerina, you did get enough sleep right?" Pearl asked as she began to fill the Jacuzzi with luke-warm water.
"Leo gave me a shot of morphine." Cerina pulled off her shirt. "Do I need to take these bandages off too?"
"Yeah, then Leo can put fresh on after we've cleaned you up." Pearl got a towel ready and pulled the shampoo and conditioner out from a cupboard under the sink.
"'K." Cerina gritted her teeth and pulled off the large patch of gauze from her stomach wound. She wadded it up, dropped it on the counter, and began to pull off the ones from her arms.
"C'mon. You'll need to take your pants off too." Pearl rolled her eyes. She would find a way to make Cerina pay for this embarrassment. No one wanted to see their sister naked—in a bikini or something like that was fine. Pearl didn't have a problem with that.
"I can't stand up without your arm." Cerina giggled. The morphine was starting to take effect and Cerina was always giggly and loopy at first when she had morphine, but after a while it knocked her out and she had no energy.
"Fine, come on then." Pearl helped Cerina stand up. "Are you sure you're alright? You looked like you were in so much pain at first."
"I'm fine. It hurt then, that's a no brainer, but the medicine is working now and I feel much better." Cerina stepped carefully into the Jacuzzi and hissed when the water stung the cuts on her legs.
"Let's get you cleaned up then." Pearl sighed and proceeded to help Cerina get clean. She was scrubbed her hair—being careful of the lump behind her ear—and carefully cleaned each wound. After several minutes Cerina was all clean. "There you are. Do you want to get out now, or sit there for a while?"
"Can I sit?" Cerina was starting to get sleepy again.
"Sure, you stay there. I'm just going to change out this water. It's muddy and full of blood." Pearl drained the water and refilled it with warm water.
"Mmm....thank you Pearl..." Cerina laid her head back against the back of the Jacuzzi.
"Don't you fall asleep on me!" Pearl gently tugged on a lock of Cerina's hair. "I'll have a hard enough time getting you out of here as it is."
"That's nice..." Cerina started to drift off.
"If you fall asleep, I'll tell Leo that I need help getting you out of the tub. He'll see you naked."
"You wouldn't!" Cerina squealed.
"I would!" Pearl threatened.
"Fine, I'm awake. Not that I would mind the punishment..." She muttered.
"Cerina!"
"I'm just saying that he'd be too embarrassed! It's not me I'm worried about."
"Whatever. Look, the sun is coming up. I guess that's why this whole wall is glass. Do you see how pretty it is Sissy?" Pearl smiled as she remembered watching the sunrise with Mikey. Raph was there too, but to Pearl, Mikey was all that mattered besides Cerina.
"I see it. It's beautiful." Cerina smiled softly, despite the pain in her cheek, and found that she couldn't stop smiling. She reached up and held Pearl's hand. "Thank you Sissy, for all your help. I know I'm a pain and sometimes you don't think I'm worth it, but thank you none-the-less."
"Don't talk like that. Of course you're worth it. Every pain-in-the-butt moment." Pearl said and they both laughed and laughed. Cerina didn't care that she was in pain, or that her gut and head ached. She didn't care—at the moment—that she had killed tons of men she didn't know. She did care that she was alive, with her sister, and in love with a wonderful man/turtle.